REPAIR YOUR LEAKY GUT BEFORE IT´S TOO LATE How To Heal Digestion By rjoachim | March 19, 2023 Studies have shown that people who have certain chronic gastrointestinal diseases have leaky guts that let larger molecules through — potentially toxic ones. Part of the job of your intestinal lining is to act as a barrier to bacteria and other infectious agents inside the gut. This barrier is an important agent in your immune system.Leaky gut syndrome is a theory that intestinal permeability is not only a symptom of gastrointestinal disease but an underlying cause that develops independently. If your intestinal barrier is impaired, it may be letting toxins into your bloodstream. These toxins may trigger an inflammatory response that may manifest as various diseases.Many other diseases have been suggested as possible consequences of leaky gut syndrome. The idea is that “toxins” from your intestines may leak into your bloodstream and cause an inflammatory response. Chronic low-grade inflammation may, indeed, be a factor in many of these diseases, including metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma and fibromyalgia. But the rest remains unclear.Scientists have measured higher levels of gut bacteria products in the blood in people with gastrointestinal (GI) diseases that are known to cause intestinal permeability. In these cases, inflammation is primarily from other causes, though bacteria products could make it worse. They’ve also measured it in liver disease, which is directly related to the gut. Bacteria products traveling from the gut to the liver via the portal vein could contribute to liver disease, but is not necessarily the cause of it.The theory of leaky gut syndrome suggests that anything that injures your gut lining can lead to intestinal permeability if the injury is persistent enough. Therefore, common everyday factors such as diet and stress may cumulatively wear down your intestinal lining until it becomes permeable. Scientists aren’t sure about this, but they do agree that these everyday factors may cause inflammation in your gut lining and uncomfortable GI symptoms for you.The most direct causes of intestinal permeability include:Chronic inflammatory states, such as IBD and celiac disease.Other diseases that cause intestinal injury, such as HIV/AIDS.Chemotherapy and radiation therapies that degrade the intestinal mucosa.Chronic overuse of alcohol or NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.Food allergies that cause an immune response to certain foods.A burning feeling of ulceration in your gut.Painful indigestion from the loss of intestinal mucosa.DiarrheaGas and bloating from fermentation by overgrown bacteria in your gut.Low energy from the reduced ability to draw energy from your food.Gastrointestinal mucositis from radiation therapy.There is no standard test to measure intestinal permeability directly in patients, which is one reason why intestinal hyperpermeability is not a current medical diagnosis. However, there are several kinds of tests currently under investigation in clinical research to look for evidence of intestinal permeability in patients. Tests include:Urine test. For this test, you drink a solution containing different kinds of sugars with molecules of different sizes, some of which are not usually absorbed in the intestines. Then analysts measure the sugar levels in your urine to see which ones made it through your gut wall.Blood test. This test analyzes a sample of your blood for evidence of gut bacteria infiltration. Specific antibodies and endotoxins are some of the biomarkers analysts look for.Tissue biopsy. This more invasive test examines a sample of your intestinal tissue in something called an Ussing chamber. The test uses electrical current to measure ion transport across the intestinal barrier. The ion transport measurement is parallel to water transport.Confocal endomicroscopy. This is an enhanced endoscopy exam that allows scientists to look at your intestinal lining in high resolution and magnification. A contrast fluid injected into your vein may show up in your gut if there is a gap in the lining. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22724-leaky-gut-syndrome Posted in Health & Wellness